N.J. officials seek to tighten unemployment rules

TRENTON — Elected officials in New Jersey are looking at ways to crack down on unemployment fraud.

Democratic Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo has proposed a bill requiring employers to file monthly wage reports to make it easier to spot people who are collecting unemployment benefits while working a different job.

Employers now report quarterly.

Another bill requires unemployment officials to receive death and incarceration notices.

The administration of Republican Gov. Chris Christie, meanwhile, has proposed a rule change that would allow suspension of benefits if recipients fail to search web sites or other sources for work.

Residents now receiving jobless benefits are expected to look for work, but the new rule would impose a penalty for not regularly doing so.